By Joyce Ting
KUCHING — The 2026 Kuching Archdiocesan Chinese Alpha Course concluded on 18 July with a thanksgiving graduation dinner at The Podium, Zhonghua Meishi Restaurant, bringing to a close a 12-week journey of faith, friendship and discovery.
Organised especially for young working adults, this year’s Alpha journey brought together around 40 participants from different parishes, Christian denominations and even other faith backgrounds. Beginning on 15 April, participants gathered every Wednesday evening in an open, friendly and respectful environment to explore questions about life, faith and the relationship between humanity and God.
More than simply attending a weekly programme, participants were invited to journey together – watching videos, sharing their personal experiences, asking questions about faith and building friendships along the way.
A significant highlight of the journey was the Alpha Holy Spirit Weekend Away at Borneo Keranji Farm. Away from the busyness and pressures of daily life, participants had the opportunity to connect with one another, pray, learn more about the Holy Spirit and reflect on His work in their lives. Fr Leonard Yap also celebrated Mass during the weekend, allowing participants to experience the joy of worship and communion together.
For many participants, Alpha became an unexpected encounter with God.
“I Know I’m Not Walking This Journey Alone”
Denise initially expected the 12-week programme to feel long and thought she might frequently miss sessions. Instead, she found herself growing closer to God and experiencing renewed joy in everyday life. Coming from a Buddhist background, she described Alpha as a turning point that led her to desire to follow God. “Every day, life became more exciting,” she shared, expressing gratitude to the Alpha team for helping more people discover the goodness of God and the assurance that they are never alone.
For Canice Tang, Alpha helped transform a sense of uncertainty into a deeper confidence in faith. Before Alpha, she sometimes felt lost, complained about her circumstances and struggled to sense God’s presence. Through the friendships formed during Alpha, however, she began to recognise God’s work through others. Today, she says she is more determined in her faith and has begun making changes in her daily life. More importantly, she has discovered that the journey of faith does not have to be walked alone.
For Winna Teng, who initially worried about speaking in front of others, the small-group sharing became an important part of her experience. Alpha gave her the confidence to express her thoughts without being afraid of whether her answers were right or wrong. By the end of the course, she had gained greater clarity about her purpose and direction in life, and a desire to grow closer to God.
Another participant, Edmund Liaw, joined Alpha mainly hoping to meet new friends and participate in church activities. What he did not expect was to encounter a God who gradually revealed His love and guidance to him. “Although I don’t know what my future will look like, at least I know where my value and purpose are,” he reflected.
The Holy Spirit Weekend Away was also deeply meaningful for Cristabel Hiu, who appreciated the opportunity to step away from the pressures of city life and work. The peaceful surroundings, prayer and experience of being prayed for gave her a renewed sense of comfort, encouragement and strength to move forward.
Transformation Through Serving
The Alpha experience was not limited to the participants. For members of the serving team, the journey became an opportunity for God to work in their own lives as well.
Angela Lim, who served as a small-group leader for the first time, admitted that she was nervous about praying for others during the Holy Spirit Weekend. Having only been baptised a year earlier, she felt she still had much to learn about the Catholic faith. Yet through prayer, she discovered that she did not need to have everything perfectly prepared.
A simple prayer – “Holy Spirit, come” – became a profound personal experience of God’s peace and presence. That experience gave her greater confidence to pray with others, recognising that she did not have to rely on her own ability, but could allow the Holy Spirit to work through her.
For Jasmine Wong, serving on the Alpha team transformed what had been a rather aimless season of life into one filled with purpose. Through serving, she learned how to pray and discovered the joy of serving God.
Michelle Chua described her experience as an unexpected invitation back to God. A year earlier, she never imagined that she would have the opportunity to serve God again. Feeling that she had drifted too far away, she initially questioned whether she was ready to serve.
But through the Alpha team, conversations, challenges and seemingly ordinary moments, she found herself rediscovering God’s presence and learning to surrender rather than trying to control everything.
Looking back, she realised that saying “yes” to serving was not simply about serving Alpha participants. It became part of God’s way of drawing her back to Him, restoring her relationship with Him and reshaping her heart.
Rachel Ho, who served as a coordinator and host, likewise discovered that taking on a different role gave her a new perspective. Instead of being part of a small group as she had been previously, she found herself observing and accompanying others. The experience became an opportunity to slow down and recognise God’s love in different circumstances.
The Journey Continues
At the thanksgiving dinner on 18 July, the Alpha team and participants celebrated the completion of the programme and gave thanks for God’s guidance and grace throughout the journey. Yet the conclusion of Alpha was also described as a beginning.
The experience of exploring faith, building friendships and encountering God is not meant to end with the final session. Participants were encouraged to carry what they had experienced into their everyday lives and continue growing in their relationship with Jesus.
The organisers expressed their gratitude to all participants, Alpha team members, volunteers, behind-the-scenes workers and those who supported the ministry through prayer.
As the 2026 Kuching Chinese Alpha journey comes to an end, the hope is that the seeds planted throughout these weeks will continue to grow – bearing fruit in the lives of participants, their communities and the wider Church.
